Turbines at the Somerset Wind Farm in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.

In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, wind power is one of the primary sources of renewable energy, and accounts for over one third of the state's renewable energy production.[1] There are more than 27 wind farms currently operating in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Theoretically, the energetic development of these wind farms could provide power for nearly 350,000 homes, or 1,300 megawatts.[2] A majority of the farms are located in the southwest-central and northeastern regions of the state.[3] Pennsylvania is an East Coast leader in wind energy due to its natural wind resources and governmental incentives brought on by the state. There is a lot of potential for growth within the wind power industry in Pennsylvania and the Northeast. Despite being one of the few landlocked states in the Mid-Atlantic region, Pennsylvania is close to several offshore sites along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean.

Wind power is also environmentally friendly. Wind power is efficient to create and sustain because it creates 31 times more energy than it requires during the manufacturing process and over its 20 year lifetime.[4]

If all wind energy potential in Pennsylvania were developed with utility-scale wind turbines, the power produced each year would be enough to supply 6.4% of the state's current electricity consumption.[5] In 2016, the state had 1369 megawatts (MW) of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for 1.6% of in-state electricity production.[6] This increased to 1459 MW in 2020.[7]

History

Turbines at the Highland North Wind Farm in Cambria County, PA.

In 2000, Pennsylvania's first commercial wind farm, the Green Mountain Wind Energy Center, was completed in Somerset County, but deactivated in 2015. [8]

In 2006, the state legislature ruled that wind turbines and related equipment may not be included in property-tax assessments. Instead, the sites of wind facilities are assessed for their income-capitalization value.  [9]

In 2007, Montgomery County became the first wind-powered county in the nation, with a two-year commitment to buy 100 percent of its electricity from a combination of wind energy and renewable energy credits derived from wind energy. [10]

Voluntary agreements with wind energy companies in Pennsylvania have been signed by The Pennsylvania Game Commission to avoid, minimize, and potentially mitigate any adverse impacts the development and production of wind energy may have on the state's wildlife resources. [11]

Many smaller wind farms in Pennsylvania are operated by NextEra Energy Resources, based in Florida. [12]

Wind Farms[13]

Two turbine of Patton Wind Farm, one of which is so close that only the lower tower is visible in the foreground.
Patton Wind Farm

See also: List of power stations in Pennsylvania § Wind

Wind Farm County Number of Turbines Turbine Capacity (MW) Farm Capacity (MW)
Somerset Somerset 6 1.5 9.0
Mill Run Fayette 10 1.5 15.0
Waymart Wayne 43 1.5 64.5
Meyersdale Somerset 20 1.5 30.0
Bear Creek Luzerne 12 2.0 24.0
Locust Ridge I Schuylkill 13 2.0 26.0
Allegheny Ridge Cambria, Blair 40 2.0 80.0
Casselman Somerset 23 1.5 34.5
Forward Somerset 14 2.1 29.4
Lookout Somerset 18 2.1 37.8
Locust Ridge II Columbia, Schuylkill 51 2.0 102.0
Highland Cambria 25 2.5 62.5
North Allegheny Cambria, Blair 35 2.0 70
Armenia Mountain Tioga, Bradford 67 1.5 100.5
Stony Creek Somerset 35 1.5 52.5
Chestnut Flats Blair 19 2.0 38
South Chestnut Fayette 23 2.0 46
Turkey Point Wind Project (Frey Farm Wind) Lancaster 2 1.6 3.2
Highland North Cambria 30 2.5 75
Sandy Ridge Blair, Centre 25 2.0 50
Twin Ridges Somerset 68 2.05 139.4
Laurel Hill Lycoming 30 2.3 69.0
Patton Cambria 15 2.0 30
Mehoopany Wyoming 88 1.6 140.8
Ringer Hill Somerset 14 2.85 39.9
Big Level Potter 25 3.6 90
Total 751   1459

Location map

Wind power projects in Pennsylvania
  Operating
  Under construction

Installed capacity and wind resources

In recent years, there have been advancements in both on and offshore wind power in Pennsylvania. At least 1300 MW of wind power is currently installed at the 27 wind farms in Pennsylvania.[14] According to the U.S. energy information administration, 1 MW of wind power can power about 650 average American homes.[15]

Offshore wind power has been proposed on the state's limited shoreline on Lake Erie.[16]

Pennsylvania 80-Meter Wind Map

Wind generation

Pennsylvania Wind Generation (GWh, Million kWh)
Year Total Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
200112111111111111
200259957653323475
200311277676342481840
2004307412931322116141217243040
2005283262733261915121115263736
2006360373839312719191822372746
2007470494551452630232226464661
20087277760695965402730356987109
20091,076576953607443464392127178234
20101,9662241901761511281167773132186179222
20111,79617421221521711492699087144195187
20122,12925219420720910715010676120206207294
20133,352356336396363294202121128158240405353
20143,536403332402398227158175161178354397351
20153,353391314416348206230132118156317363361
20163,476412387355274184215155149179338370458
20173,590307327377361322274223183249341317309
20183,566412386292334288219206200221330341337
20193,252346297339329230243169176193287278365
20203,748387331381374341203151180213306437444
20213,536319319403340272227184184265287341395
20223,767363373400369310247209182235315400364
20231,111328394389

  Teal background indicates the largest wind generation month for the year.

  Green background indicates the largest wind generation month to date.

Source:[17][18][19]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pennsylvania - State Energy Profile Analysis - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  2. ↑ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  3. ↑ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  4. ↑ "Wind Energy in Pennsylvania". Penn State Extension. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  5. ↑ State wind energy fact sheet - Pennsylvania, American Wind Energy Association, Dec. 2011
  6. ↑ "Pennsylvania Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 January 2016.
  7. ↑ Wind Energy in Pennsylvania
  8. ↑ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  9. ↑ "Property:Incentive/Summary | Open Energy Information". openei.org. Retrieved 2021-10-03.
  10. ↑ Corcoran, John (20 March 2019). "Montgomery County Announces 100% Wind Power Purchase & Commitment To Sustainable Operations". Retrieved 28 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  12. ↑ "Info for Pennsylvanians: PA Wind Farms". www.pawindenergynow.org. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  13. ↑ "Pennsylvania Wind Farms | Saint Francis University". www.francis.edu. Retrieved 2021-09-21.
  14. ↑ "Wind Power". Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  15. ↑ "How much wind energy does it take to power an average home?". www.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2021-10-05.
  16. ↑ "ERIE WIND". cleanair.org. Retrieved 2021-09-28.
  17. ↑ EIA (July 27, 2012). "Electric Power Monthly Table 1.17.A." United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  18. ↑ EIA. "EIA Electricity Data Browser". United States Department of Energy. Retrieved 2016-12-30.
  19. ↑ Wind Energy in Pennsylvania
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